Moy Park Agree Two Year Open Deal

Nigel Dunlop, Moy Park CEO, First Minister Peter Robinson and Tony O'Neill, Moy Park Director 

Moy Park, Northern Ireland’s largest food company has secured a two year sponsorship deal with the European Tour to support the 2012 Irish Open at Royal Portrush and the 2013 Irish Open at Carton House, Kildare.

The company, which is Northern Ireland’s biggest employer, is the latest to add its support to the tournament which kicks off in just over a month.

Nigel Dunlop, Moy Park CEO, commented: “Moy Park has signed up for a two year sponsorship deal which will see us support this year’s iconic event at Royal Portrush and next year’s event in Kildare. The Moy Park brand is now Ireland’s number one poultry brand and we are one of the largest companies in Northern Ireland, so we felt it was important to lend our support to such a prestigious event.

“The Irish Open will attract thousands of visitors to Northern Ireland and will provide an opportunity for us to showcase not only our world-class hospitality but also our fantastic local produce.”

James Finnigan of The European Tour, Commercial Director for the Irish Open, said: “ As Ireland’s National Open Championship and the only European Tour event taking place in Ireland in 2012, the tournament is not only the highlight of the golf calendar in Ireland but one of the most prominent events in the Irish sporting calendar. We welcome a company of Moy Park’s stature as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Open and are extremely pleased that they have pledged their support not just for this year’s event but also for the 2013 Irish Open at Carton House.”

Welcoming the announcement, Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said: “This is a further boost for this year’s Irish Open, which already looks like being one of the most successful in recent times. I commend Moy Park on their decision to take this opportunity to showcase their brand and their range of products to a world-wide audience.

“The Northern Ireland Executive is committed to ensuring that the Irish Open at Portrush will be a success. Hosting this important tournament will give a great boost to the Northern Ireland economy along with the tourism sector and we aim to use it to encourage potential investors to consider Northern Ireland as an investment location.”

Irish Open Gets Tasty Dale Farm Deal

Brian Beattie with James Finnigan

Leading local dairy business Dale Farm is ‘teed up’ and ready for this year’s Irish Open, having agreed a major sponsorship deal for the tournament next month at Royal Portrush Golf Club.

As well as throwing significant sponsorship behind the Irish Open, the company will be the Official Supplier of Ice Cream and Dairy Products at Royal Portrush throughout its duration.

Brian Beattie, Head of Marketing for Dale Farm, said: “With the tournament returning to Northern Ireland this summer for the first time in almost 50 years and the quality of local golfing talent at an all-time high, Dale Farm is delighted to put our brand name to this year’s Irish Open, which will draw interest from right across the globe. The event is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our range of dairy products, made using the finest Northern Irish milk.

“Dale Farm backs local sport on many levels – from official dairy supplier to the Ulster Rugby team, to our Sports bursary awards for up and coming athletic and sports talent, to our grass roots school sports day initiative. We are very proud to add golf, and particularly the prestigious Irish Open, to our sponsorship portfolio.”

James Finnigan, Commercial Director for the Irish Open, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dale Farm as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Open. The welcome and interest from the Northern Irish community to the Irish Open has been exceptional and now the addition of one of UK’s leading dairy processing companies is a significant boost to the Irish Open. We believe the Irish Open offers Dale Farm an outstanding platform on which to promote their world-class range of products.”

McGinley Hails BMW for Irish Open

Paul McGinley, the three-time Ryder Cup winner from Dublin, hailed the new agreement between BMW and the Irish Open which confirms BMW’s status as Official Car to the event for the next three years.

The 2012 Irish Open will be played in Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years when the iconic links of Royal Portrush hosts a tournament which includes several Major winners, most notably the current Open and US Open Champions, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy.

McGinley, who visited Royal Portrush to help conclude the three-year agreement with Robert Frame, Business Development Manager of BMW in Northern Ireland, recalled some of his favourite memories of the world-famous course close to the Giant’s Causeway.

The 45 year old, who sank the winning putt in the2002 Ryder Cup at The Belfry, said: “I always loved coming here for the North of Ireland Championship as an amateur, although I didn’t quite manage to take away the silverware. I played in the final twice and lost to Darren Clarke and Garth McGimpsey.”

McGinley is thrilled that the Irish Open is being played at Royal Portrush, and he added: “It’s long overdue a return to Northern Ireland and it is massive news for the golfing public in the North, who can now enjoy the spectacle of watching Darren, Rory and Graeme (McDowell) on their home turf for the first time.

“The fact that the Irish Open is being played in Northern Ireland next month is a wonderful testament to the achievements of those three in recent years. Their successes will have a special resonance with the public and I think it’s safe to say that their reaction will emphasise that.”

Peter Walker, General Manager, Sports Marketing, BMW (UK Ltd), said: “BMW is delighted to extend its association with the Irish Open for a further three years. We are all excited at the prospect of the event being played at such a spectacular course and in front of some of the largest and most knowledgeable crowds in golf.

“As well as the Irish Open, BMW’s long-term commitment to The European Tour can be seen by its title sponsorship of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, the BMW International Open in Germany and the recently announced BMW Masters in China. In addition, the company also supports 20 tournaments globally with ‘Official Car’ partnerships and was an Official Partner of The 2010 Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor Resort.”

James Finnigan, Commercial Director of the Irish Open, commented: “BMW is an outstanding long-term Partner of The European Tour in general and the Irish Open in particular. We are delighted to be able to extend our arrangement with BMW through until 2014 and to know that the players, officials and VIPs will have the best possible service during the tournament.”

PHOTO: Robert Frame, Business Development Manager of BMW in Northern Ireland, with three-time Ryder Cup winner Paul McGinley (Photo: EuropeanTour)

John Daly Added to Irish Open

John Daly is the latest high-profile name to sign up to play at next month's Irish Open at Royal Portrush.

The two-time Major winner has accepted a sponsor's invite to join Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke at the event.

It will be the fifth time that Daly, 46, plays in the tournament, having missed the cut on his most recent visit in 2009 at Baltray.

The Irish Open takes place at Royal Portrush from June 28 to July 1.

Concra Woods Hosts Europro Tour

Concra Wood GC in conjunction with the PGA Europro tour is proud to announce that Kingspan Insulation, has come on board as title sponsor of the ‘Kingspan Concra Wood Open’ scheduled to take place from the 9-13 July at the Castleblayney venue. 

Course designer and Ryder Cup legend, Christy O’Connor Jnr was on hand to help launch the event which is set to add another dimension to a spectacular summer of golf in Ireland. 

Jim Loughran, Commercial Director at Kingspan Insulation, said: “Kingspan Insulation are delighted to be the main sponsors of the Kingspan Concra Wood Open. Being located adjacent to our manufacturing site in Castleblayney, we are aware of the high standards set at Concra Wood and the opportunities that being involved with such a high profile event offers Kingspan Insulation. Supporting local business and events has always been at the forefront of our community involvement, we are very proud to be involved with Concra Wood and to sponsor this PGA EuroPro tour event.” 

Christy O’Connor Jnr said; “It is a great honour to be asked to help launch this event. Getting a tournament here is a huge thing for me personally as it proves the golf course is considered a proper test of golf. I would like to extend my own thanks to the title sponsors, Kingspan. We all know this is a difficult time in Ireland and it is great to see them supporting the community. I would also like to congratulate everyone at Concra Wood. Bringing this tournament to the venue is proof that the club is ambitious and moving forward, which is fantastic news in these tough times.” 

Head professional at Concra Wood, Conor McKenna, said, “We are delighted to have secured Kingspan Insulation as the main title sponsor of the event. Not only do they play a vital part in the local community in terms of continued job creation, but they are a market leader in thermal insulation and their brand is renowned worldwide. We look forward to working closely with Kingspan Insulation in the coming months to make this tournament a success for the whole community.” 

The PGA Europro Tour is a partnership between The Professional Golfers’ Association and Matchroom Sport. It has become one of the leading tours in Europe and is the only officially recognised golf developmental tour in the UK. 

The backing and support of the PGA is pivotal to its success as players strive to progress from the PGA Europro to Challenge Tour and full European Tour. 

The 2010 Open Champion, Louis Oosthuizen is one of the tour’s greatest success stories. Oosthuizen made his PGA Europro Tour debut in 2002, building his confidence and skills for two years.

Ryder Cup star Ross Fisher, 2008 Irish Open winner, Richard Finch and Scottish World Cup winner Marc Warren have all used the PGA EuroPro Tour as a launchpad to European Tour success.

There are 168 players in each tournament, which are three day events, usually preceded by a one, or two-day pro-am’s, all organised by the extremely professional team at the PGA. 

In 2012 there will be up to 15 PGA Europro Tournaments staged at venues around UK and Ireland - all televised on Sky Television.

Photo caption
(l-r) Andy Whelan (Concra Wood GC President), Pat Freeman (MD, Kingspan), Christy O’Connor Jnr (course designer), Conor McKenna (Head Professional Concra Wood GC), Ms Eithne McAviney (Lady Captain, Concra Wood GC)